Background Self-perceived burden,anxiety and depression are among the most important factors affecting quality of life.At present,there is a lack of understanding on the research status and influencing factors of self-perceived burden in liver transplant recipients.Previous studies have shown that self-perceived burden,anxiety,depression and quality of life are correlated in pairs,but the effecting path among the three are not yet clear.Objective To explore the correlation of self-perceived burden and anxiety/depression with quality of life in liver transplant recipients,so as to provide guidance for psychological nursing intervention in clinical patients.Methods A total of 200 patients liver transplant recipients were enrolled from the liver transplantation inpatient and outpatient clinics of Jiangsu Province Hospital and Qinhuai Medical Area,General Hosptial of Eastern Theater Command of People's Liberation Army of China from March 2022 to February 2023.Patients were evaluated using Self-perceived Burden Scale(SPBS),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)and the Chinese version of Post Liver Transplant Quality of Life Questionnaire(pLTQ).Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation among the scales.A structural equation model using Mplus 8.3 was utilized to testify the relationship among self-perceived burden,anxiety/depression and quality of life in liver transplant recipients.Bootstrap method was used to test the effecting pathway.Results There were statistically significant differences in SPBS scores of liver transplant recipients with different levels of education and fannual family income(H=9.656,18.796,P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in HADS scores of liver transplant recipients with different numbers of somatic symptoms(H=9.859,P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in the Chinese version of pLTQ scores of liver transplant recipients with different levels of education,postoperative survival time and numbers of somatic symptoms(H=6.892,8.023,16.099,P<0.05).The total and each dimension scores in SPBS of liver transplant recipients were positively correlated with the total score and anxiety/depression dimension scores in HADS(r=0.464～0.586,0.460～0.593,0.286～0.408,0.464～0.583,P<0.01)and negatively correlated with the total score and each dimension scores in the Chinese version of pLTQ(r=-0.572～-0.416,-0.599～-0.441,-0.365～-0.213,-0.559～-0.428,P<0.01).Structural equation model denoted that self-perceived burden negatively affected quality of life(β=-0.186,P<0.01).Anxiety/depression also negatively affected quality of life(β=-0.679,P<0.01).The self-perceived burden indirectly affected the quality of life of liver transplant recipients through anxiety and depression,with an effect value of-0.429,accounting for 69.76％of the total effect.Conclusion The quality of life in liver transplant recipients may be related to their self-perceived burden and anxiety/depression.Self-perceived burden may affect the quality of life of liver transplant patients through anxiety and depression.

The present study investigated the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Di'ao Xinxuekang(DXXK) on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) in mice. Sixty-five C57 BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into a normal group and an experimental group for model induction with the high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Then the mice in the experimental group were randomly divided into a model group, an atorvastatin group(4 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and high-(200 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), medium-(60 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and low-dose(20 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) DXXK groups, with 10 mice in each group. Drugs were administered by gavage for eight weeks. Serum lipid, liver lipid, serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione reductase(GSH-Px) were determined. Interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The liver index was calculated. The liver pathological change and lipid accumulation were observed by HE and oil red O staining. The liver ultrastructure was observed by the transmission electron microscope. The mRNA and protein expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2(Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) was detected by real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. The results showed that compared with the normal group, the model group displayed serum lipid and liver lipid metabolism disorders, elevated transaminase, lipid deposition, steatosis, and inflammation, suggesting that the NASH model in mice was properly induced. Compared with the model group, the DXXK groups showed decreased serum lipid, liver lipid, ALT, AST, MDA, IL-1β, and TNF-α, increased SOD and GSH-Px, alleviated hepatic steatosis, ballooning, and inflammation, and up-regulated Nrf2 and HO-1 gene and protein expression. In conclusion, DXXK can significantly alleviate NASH in mice, which is related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory damage by up-regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Lipids ; Liver ; Mice ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Signal Transduction ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

Objective: To compare and correlate the findings of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging in characterizing parotid gland tumors. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 56 patients with parotid gland tumors evaluated by MR imaging. The true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and fraction of perfusion (f) values of IVIM imaging and tumor-to-parotid gland signal intensity ratio (SIR) on ASL imaging were calculated. Spearman rank correlation coefficient, chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests with the post-hoc Dunn-Bonferroni method and receiver operating characteristic curve assessments were used for statistical analysis. Results: Malignant parotid gland tumors showed significantly lower D than benign tumors (p = 0.019). Within subgroup analyses, pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) showed significantly higher D than malignant tumors (MTs) and Warthin’s tumors (WTs) (p < 0.001). The D* of WTs was significantly higher than that of PAs (p = 0.031). The f and SIR on ASL imaging of WTs were significantly higher than those of MTs and PAs (p < 0.05). Significantly positive correlation was found between SIR on ASL imaging and f (r = 0.446, p = 0.001). In comparison with f, SIR on ASL imaging showed a higher area under curve (0.853 vs. 0.891) in discriminating MTs from WTs, although the difference was not significant (p = 0.720). Conclusion IVIM and ASL imaging could help differentiate parotid gland tumors. SIR on ASL imaging showed a significantly positive correlation with f. ASL imaging might hold potential to improve the ability to discriminate MTs from WTs.

Objective To understand the relationship between the concentration of air pollutants and daily emergency department visits for different diseases (circulatory system disease, digestive system disease, nervous system disease and respiratory system disease) in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Methods The daily average concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2, carbon monoxide (CO) and PM2.5 and the daily maximum 8-hour concentrations of O3, the daily average temperature, the relative humidity and cause -specific emergency department visits of the four major diseases from 2015 to 2017 were collected in Guangzhou. Semi-parametric generalized additive model was used to analyze the relationship between the concentration of pollutants and daily cause-specific emergency department visits. Results The daily average concentrations of SO2, NO2, CO, O3 and PM2.5 during the study period were 13.24 μg /m3, 45.96 μg /m3, 0.97 mg /m3, 123.77 μg /m3 and 36.22 μg /m3, respectively. For circulatory system disease，the independently significant associations of SO2 with emergency department visits in single-pollutant models (2.91%, 95% CI: 1.00%-4.85%), and multipollutant models (4.39%, 95% CI: 1.22%-7.67%) were observed. Conclusion The ambient SO2 increases the risk of emergency department visits due to circulatory diseases in Guangzhou. Comprehensive prevention and control measures should be taken to reduce the emission of SO2.

We sought to compare the level of peripheral blood gamma interferon(IFN-γ),interleukin 4 (IL-4),TGF-β1,IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-4 between acute brucellosis and chronic brucellosis to look for biochemical markers for chronic brucellosis.A total of 42 acute brucellosis and 42 chronic brucellosis cases were selected randomly from the Endemic Disease Prevention and Control Center of Ulanqab City as the research subjects with 20 local healthy persons as healthy control.Comparisons of IFN-γ,IL-4,TGF-β1,IL-10 and IFN-7/IL-4 in the three groups were tested by One-Way ANOVA analysis.Parameters of IL-4,IFN-γ,TGF-β1,IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-4 in peripheral blood were analyzed with T-test between acute brucellosis with chronic brucellosis.Results showed that the mean of IFN-,IL-4,TGF-β1 and IFN-γ/IL-4 was significant difference in the three groups(F =6.86,11.90,12.25,4.60,P＜0.01),but not of IL-10(F=2.72,P＞0.05).The mean of IFN-γ,IL-4 andIFN-7/IL-4 was significant difference between acute brucellosis with chronic group(t=-1.99,82,-3.3,P＜0.05),but not of TGF-β1 and IL-10(t=-1.90,-1.81,P＞0.05).Combined with TGF-β1 and IL-10 levels,high level IFN-γ may be regarded as one of the biochemical markers for chronic brucellosis.

Animals ; Bacterial Vaccines ; Brucella suis ; genetics ; Brucellosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Time Factors

Objective To evaluate the effect of multiplex polymerase chain reaction(Multiple-PCR) in identification of Brucella strains.Methods Six standard Brucella strains (Brucella abortus,Brucella melitensis,Brucella suis,Brucella canis,Brucella ovis,Brucella neotomae) were used as positive controls and Escherichia coli O∶157 and Yersinia enterocolitica O∶9 were used as negative controls.A total of 29 Brucella strains were tested.Brucella strains were amplified by BCSP31-PCR and the species of Brucella with positive results were identified with Multiple-PCR method.Results The results of all 29 amplified Brucella strains were positive with BCSP31-PCR.The identified results of all Brucella strains were positive with Multiple-PCR,including 20 strains of Brucella melitensis,5 isolates of Brucella suis,3 strains of Brucella abortus and 1 strain of Brucella canis.Conclusion Multiple-PCR method is a rapid,specific,simple and low risk method for identification of Brucella species.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in Ulanqab of Inner Mongolia.Methods Three hundred and twenty patients with suspected brucellosis were selected,who had registered in the Ulanqab Center for Endemic Disease Control of Inner Mongolia from April to June 2011.The investigation covered general situation,such as gender,age,occupation and main clinical symptoms and so on.Blood samples were collected,and Rose Bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) was used for serum screening.Those who were tested positive in RBPT were confirmed with tube agglutination test (SAT).Brucellosis was diagnosed according to Diagnostic criteria for Brucellosis (WS 269-2007).Data were analyzed with statistical software(SPSS 17.0).Results One hundred and thirty-four cases were positive in RBPT of the 320 people surveyed,of which 93 cases were positive in SAT; antibody titers were higher than 1 ∶ 100(++),therefore they were diagnosed as brucellosis,and the ratio was 29.1％(93/320).The number of patients with suspected brucellosis who were negative in SAT test was 41,and the ratio was 12.8％ (41/320).Among the 93 people who were infected,the constituent ratio of farmers and herdsmen who engaged in livestock was the highest,accounted for 63.4％(59/93) and 24.7％ (23/93) of the total number of patients ; infection rate of male (30.9％,55/178) was higher than that of females (26.7％,38/142) ; the number(39) of brucellosis patients who were over the age of 51 was the highest,and the ratio is 42.0％.The onset season mainly in May and August; main route of exposure was bare hands lambing,midwifery and contact with infected sheep pollutants.Conclusions Sheep is the main source of human Brucella infection in Ulanqab.It is the key to control the spreading of brucellosis through improving awareness of disease prevention among farmers and herdsmen as well intensifying the prevention and control of Brucella infection between livestock.

Aged ; Cytoplasm ; Cytoplasmic Granules ; Female ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Plasma Cells ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo establish multiplex PCR-based assays for detecting H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae. And the PCR-based assays were applied to detect the carriage rates of H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae in nasopharyngeal swab specimens which were collected from healthy children.

METHODSMultiplex primers for species-specific PCR were designed by using DNAstar soft based on the sequences of 16S rRNA genes from genus Haemophilus to detect H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae.

RESULTSThe sensitivity of the 16S rRNA PCR assay for detecting H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae was 97.53% and 100% respectively, and the specificity was 95.89% and 96.63% respectively. Youden's Index on the ability to detect H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae was 0.9342 and 0.9663 respectively. 666 nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from healthy children. The detection rates of H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae were 14.11% and 16.07% respectively by using isolation and culture methods. The detection rates of H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae were 43.54% and 57.96% respectively by 16S rRNA PCR assays. The carriage rates of serotypes a, b, c, d, e, f and non-typeable isolates were 0% (0/666), 0.15% (1/666), 1.20% (8/666), 0.15% (1/666), 1.20% (8/666), 1.80% (12/666), 95.50% (636/666) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe multiplex PCR assays were very rapid, reliable and feasible methods for detection of H.influenzae and H.parainfluenzae in pharyngeal swab specimens which were compared to conventional isolation and culture methods. 95.5% of H.influenzae strains in healthy children were nontypeable. The encapsulated or typable strains were mainly three serotypes which was c, e, and f serotype.

Haemophilus influenzae ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Haemophilus parainfluenzae ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Nasopharynx ; microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity